Music Review: All I Really Want for Christmas by Steven Curtis Chapman

Stars: 5 out of 5

Pros: Some great new songs and Steven's take on the classics

Cons: Not quite as strong as his first one

Bottom Line:

More Christmas magic

In Steven's unique style

A disc you will love

Steven Curtis Chapman Offers a Second Great Christmas Disc

Ten years after, Steven Curtis Chapman released his first Christmas CD, he came back with All I Really Want for Christmas. And like that first release, this one has become required listening.

Things changed for Mr. Chapman over that decade. His involvement in and heart for adoption is front and center on this disc. The disc opens with Shaohannah, his oldest adopted daughter, reading the Christmas story from Luke. The final track is the two of them singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas." While at first I thought these might be cheesy, I really like it.

The title track is also about adoption. It's an orphan's letter to Santa asking for a family for Christmas. Its melancholy theme is uplifted by a very catchy tune. I find myself singing it after hearing it.

Two years before this came out, Steven released a Christmas CD with Hallmark. The good news for those who didn't get that CD is that the seven new songs are on this CD. The bad news for us die-hard fans who got that CD is that the seven new songs are on this CD. This makes the Hallmark CD pretty much obsolete, which I think I prefer over all. Now I can listen to two distinct CD’s and get all his Christmas music without any repeats.

The CD does boast a nice selection of traditional songs. "Angels from the Realms of Glory" gets a new Steven melody and sounds like it fits in with his catalogue better then the traditional carol. Steven lets his bluegrass background show through more on his Christmas CD's. It makes for some original arrangements on such tracks as "I Heard the Bells," "Go Tell it On the Mountain," "Silver Bells," and "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen." Still, they aren’t so different they aren’t recognizable the first time through.

In addition to the title track, there are three other original songs on this disc. One is a new version of "Christmas is all in the Heart," this time a duet with Vince Gill. "The Miracle of Christmas" not only reflects on the original miracle, God became man, but the fact that He still comes to those who call Him. "The Night Before Christmas" places the ordinary daily lives of the residence of Bethlehem against the extraordinary events taking place in a stable. Both are outstanding songs and I wish there were more like them here.

Stylistically, this disc is a great follow up to "The Music of Christmas." In many ways, it's a continuation.

While not quite as strong as his first Christmas CD, All I Really Want for Christmas is still a wonderful disc in it's own right. It would be a perfect choice for Christmas Eve by a roaring fire. So grab some eggnog and enjoy.